Jason Holder returns for Pride against Jaguars

Jason Holder will make a return to first-class cricket in the third round of the 2018-2019 West Indies four-day championship on Friday when he plays for Barbados Pride against Guyana Jaguars, at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

The match is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am

The Windies Test and One-Day International captain missed last month’s tour of Bangladesh due to injury, but is fit enough to take his place in the four-day match.

Holder is joined in the Bajan squad by opener Kraigg Brathwaite, batting allrounder Roston Chase, ‘keeper Shane Dowrich, off-spinner Ashley Nurse, seamer Kemar Roach and left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican, and pacer Miguel Cummins all of whom have played for the Windies.

Brathwaite said it was great to have Holder back on the field.

“It is always an honour to play for Barbados and we really look forward to this opportunity here at Kensington Oval,” Brathwaite said on Thursday as the players completed their preparations. “We have a strong team to take on Guyana and we expect this to be a very good contest.

“Jason was out with an injury, so we welcome him back, as well as a few players who played recently in Bangladesh. Ashley is also back in the squad after recovering from an injury, so with their experience and skills, that should make us a good unit to compete against Guyana on our home turf.”

Pride will hope to get a bounce from the presence of the Windies players. They went down to Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the opening round by 34 runs and then pulled off a dramatic 41-win over Jamaica Scorpions inside three days, in the opening two matches last month.

Pride are second in the four-day standings on 22.6, behind Jaguars who have 37 following wins in their first two matches.